There are many opportunities to get involved to help better the City of Alexandria. Opportunities include serving on a Board, Commission or Committee, providing input on a new City project or speaking at a City Council meeting.

Historic Alexandria is a treasure trove of early structures, artifacts, and records that creates a unique way of life for its citizens and provides enjoyment for thousands of people who visit this special community every year. The City continues to add resources to its collection of local and nationally designated historic districts.

Agencies and programs that help maintain our safety and overall quality of life. These links contain information about the City of Alexandria's law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations, courts and judicial system.

The City provides a number of services to residents, including refuse collection and recycling. In addition, the City is responsible for maintaining streets, sidewalks, bridges, and other infrastructure in the City.

Did you know that ACPS is one of the most diverse school systems in the country? Our students come from more than 80 different countries, speak more than 60 languages, and represent a myriad of ethnic and cultural groups. The Alexandria Library is an educational, user-oriented service institution providing free public access to recorded knowledge and ideas.

The City provides public assistance as a safety net for individuals and families, including help with homelessness prevention, food, rent, utilities, medical coverage and prescriptions, job training and placement assistance, and much more.

If you are looking for small-town charm and big-city amenities, Alexandria is the place to find them. Alexandria has a fascinating history, and many of its historic buildings are still preserved today. The City's many historic homes, churches, businesses, and museums allow residents and visitors alike to experience the past that makes it the charming town it is today.

Alexandria is a desirable location to live, work and play. The City owns many of the premier historic sites in Alexandria and it is charged with the conservation, interpretation and promotion of these links to the past.

Alexandria is an active community that offers more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated public space, and a wide variety of neighborhood and recreation centers, pools, dog parks, farmers' markets, waterfront activities and more.

Ideally located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Alexandria is nationally recognized as one of the best places to live and do business on the east coast. Learn how we can help you start or relocate your business in Alexandria, and access resources for existing businesses and commuters.

Alexandria offers wide range of job opportunities and services. Work for City government or City Public Schools, find out about an internship opportunity or learn about workforce development and career training options.

Call.Click.Connect., the City’s online customer service system, allows customers to submit service requests, report problems, search for information, or find the right contact to call for various issues and topics of interest.

Alexandria offers wide range of job opportunities and services. Work for City government or City Public Schools, find out about an internship opportunity or learn about workforce development and career training options.

Alexandria is an active community that offers more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated public space, and a wide variety of neighborhood and recreation centers, pools, dog parks, farmers' markets, waterfront activities and more.

Agencies and programs that help maintain our safety and overall quality of life. These links contain information about the City of Alexandria's law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations, courts and judicial system.

The City provides a number of services to residents, including refuse collection and recycling. In addition, the City is responsible for maintaining streets, sidewalks, bridges, and other infrastructure in the City.

The City provides public assistance as a safety net for individuals and families, including help with homelessness prevention, food, rent, utilities, medical coverage and prescriptions, job training and placement assistance, and much more.

The Alexandria City Council is composed of a Mayor and six Council members who are elected at-large for three-year terms. The Mayor, who is chosen on a separate ballot, presides over meetings of the Council and serves as the ceremonial head of government.

The City of Alexandria has a strong commitment to citizen participation as evidenced by the number of citizen boards and commissions established by City Council. These bodies compose a formal system through which citizens can advise City Council on all major issues affecting the City.

There are many opportunities to get involved to help better the City of Alexandria. Opportunities include serving on a Board, Commission or Committee, providing input on a new City project or speaking at a City Council meeting.

The City government acts with integrity in an open process, and provides timely access to clear, trustworthy information, presented and employed by all parties from the beginning to the end of the process, including the reasoning that leads to and supports the policy conclusion.

Share

Stone supply held up tunnel

October 26, 1995
By Pamela Cressey

Patricia Knock reading plaques at the Wilkes Street Tunnel, which is 170 feet long with exterior walls extending an additional 120 feet to South Royal Street. Courtesy of Alexandria Archaeology. The tunnel's vaulted walls and interior walls are random range grey sandstone which are dry-laid. The interior is 170 feet long, while exterior stone and brick walls on the Royal Street side extend another 120 feet. The arch is grey sandstone masonry with a width of 15 feet, and a height of 17 feet one inch at the keystone.

"Yesterday forenoon our citizens on the wharf were delighted with the sight of three car loads of flour, meal and shipstuff from the Central Mills, owned by Messrs. J.J. Wheat & Brothers. The cars came in with flags flying and amidst the shouts of the assembled crowd. Mr. John Tasapaugh we understand claims the honor of taking off the first barrel of flour received by the railroad. This is but a sprinkling of what we shall see when the road is completed further into the country."

- ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE MAY 30, 1851

So began the illustrious history of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and the Wilkes Street Tunnel. By joining the waterfront wharves with the western hinterland by rail, Alexandria secured its role as a regional economic hub in this new transportation era.

The Wilkes Street Tunnel is a landmark today. We are accustomed to viewing its stone and brick walls daily as we travel to the Old Town Safeway. But what did the tunnel look like in May of 1851? Apparently it was not a completed structure. On May 15, T. C. Atkinson, the chief engineer, wrote: "The job of Graduation terminating at the end of the second mile,...for which Messrs. Malone & Crockett were contractors, advanced with reasonable speed in all respects, except the Tunnel itself. This portion of the work proceeded so slowly that at their solicitation in the month of November lst, it was determined to take it out of their hands.

"Since that date it has been prosecuted by the Company and I am gratified to be enable to say now that the work embraced in their contract has advanced so near to completion, that its cost will...very probably fall within [my estimate]. The estimate submitted ...was $24,751.30, and the expenditure . . .was less that $20,000." Atkinson noted that the first contractors' "delay arose from a disappointment in the supply of stone, for which they have hitherto relied upon the quarries at the Little Falls of the Potomac."

How long did it take to complete the tunnel? Atkinson's report was perhaps optimistic. Citizens were complained in the July 1, 1854 Alexandria Gazette: "Workmen are employed on the Railroad Tunnel on Wilkes street at the south end of the City. We hope to see this work speedily completed. It should not be suffered to remain in its present condition any longer." Ethelyn Cox noted in her street by street book that the Gazette reported that the eastern end of the tunnel was almost finished October 23, 1855.

Yet the October 1856 O&ARR annual report showed an additional $1965.81 expense for the tunnel. Since later annual reports do not document more expenditures, we think that the tunnel was completed in 1856. If you visit the tunnel today, you will not hear a train whistle. The current tunnel traffic consists of bikers.